rombon

January 15, 2013

I find the Epson software entirely sufficient for scanning positive images even for professional use.

Regards, Marko

November 8, 2012

It depends, for instance <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=3824787">nick baker</a> wrote:

"28-105 AFD is a bargain in comparison to a comparable modern lens".

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I have both 28-105 AFD and 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR FX. The old 28-105 AFD was good on F4 and F100 but on D600 or D800 there is a visible difference between "bargin" 28-105 and the recent 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR FX. And the addition of VR is more than welcome. So I wouldn't say that this is a good bargain in you use high resolution digital body.

Regards, Marko

October 9, 2012

I have both D300 and D800. If the D600 is similar to D800 in quality I think that in not especially demanding conditions (enough light, low to medium contrast) you can get quite similar results from both cameras. The difference is that you will have to invest much more postproduction time and knowledge to get you there. In difficult conditions there is no contest.

Regards, Marko

September 11, 2012

There is a problem getting the scanner to work on 64 bit Windows machine, but there are solutions, just search the net. This worked for me: <a href="http://axelriet.blogspot.com/2009/10/nikon-ls-40-ls-50-ls-5000-scanners-on.html">http://axelriet.blogspot.com/2009/10/nikon-ls-40-ls-50-ls-5000-scanners-on.html</a>

I use even older Nikon 4000 Coolscan scanner on my Windows 7 64 bit PC without any problems.

Regards, Marko

August 29, 2012

For print scanning Dmax of the scanner is pretty irrelevant. I don't think that you will see any meaningful difference between print scans made with V500, V700 or V750. Better scanning software is more convenient and reduces the need for post scanning editing (Photoshop) but you can make a very good scan of the print with the supplied scanning software. I use V700 with Epson software for scanning reflective originals and i think that it is a overkill. The scanner shows its real quaility only when you scan transparent originals.

Regards, Marko

August 6, 2012

There is a comprehensive test of UV and polarizing filters on the net: <a href="http://www.lenstip.com/115.1-article-Polarizing_filters_test.html">http://www.lenstip.com/115.1-article-Polarizing_filters_test.html</a> and <a href="http://www.lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test.html">http://www.lenstip.com/113.1-article-UV_filters_test.html</a> I was looking for the polariser for my new Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR (72 mm). I bought Marumi DHG Super Circular PL based on the test findings.

Regards, Marko

August 3, 2012

I do own and use 80-200 f2.8 D ED. I am quite satisfied with optical quality of the 80-200 f2.8 D-ED but it focuses relatively slowly and the use of tripod is almost always a must. I shoot landscapes and I focus in live view so those limitations are not a problem for me.

I use AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 VR on D800 when I want to travel light (mountains). I use it mostly at f/8 and below 200 mm because the optical quality of the zoom is not so good below f/5.6 - 8 and between 200 and 300 mm.

I don't think that 70-200mm VRII is optically so much better compared to 80-200 f2.8 D ED but you do get VR at f/2.8 and quick, responsive and accurate focusing. I think your style of shooting in the most importatnt factor in your dilemma.

Regards, Marko

July 19, 2012

I bought Nikon 24-85mm/f3.5-4.5 AF-S VR today at my local Nikon dealer. I was lucky that the dealer got two of them and that I was allowed to try both in the vicinity of the store. I made a quick test with my D800 camera. I put he camera on the tripod, leveled it and took the pictures of the wall covered with travertine tiles from the distance of few meters. I was surprised at the difference between the two lenses. The one that I later bought was sharp almost to the extreme borders at 24 mm at f8 while the second was much worse especially in both upper corners. It was a little bit mushy even at the center.

So again it seams that we have consumer zoom with big variation between samples and there will be a lot of conflicting reports about this zoom. My advice is try it before you buy it.

The sharpness of the better sample at 24 mm and f8 was almost as good as my old 24 mm/f2.8 AIs at f11. The zoom has a very pronounced barrel geometric distortion so i will have to wait for the Lightroom profile of the new lens. Comparing the 24-85mm/f3.5-4.5 AF-S VR to the 24 mm/f2.8 AIs I would say that the zoom is not really 24 mm but rather 24.5 mm at the widest setting.

Regards, Marko

May 20, 2012

Ordered D800 on February 11, got it on March 28, returned it three days later because it was faulty <a href="../nikon-camera-forum/00aDCK">http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00aDCK</a>. I was told that they did't try to repair it here in Slovenia but they send it to central Nikon repair facility in Germany. Few days ago they called me and reported that the camera is back but still not working as it should. They informed me that Nikon Germany agreed to send me a new camera and now I am waiting to get it. 50 days passed since I returned D800 and I do not see this as a good attitude towards a customer. Anyway, I had d800 for three days, long enough to see exceptional good camera it is, so I am looking forward to use it again.

Regards, Marko

April 15, 2012

I've yet to see a well-set up digital projector that can beat film.

</blockquote>

Well, it's not so simple. The resolution alone is by far not the only factor determining the projection quality.

With slide projection you had serious problems with slide popping which send the whole parts of the slides out of focus. Beside that typical projector lens in slide projector was mediocre at best. The digital projectors in the upper class have much better lenses today. As the result you get the whole picture plan in it's optimal sharpness with digital projection.

Another very big advantage of the digital projection is that you can edit your files, "develop" pictures, remove color casts and optimize the sharpness for digital projection. You can show scanned maps, documents, you can make captions in no time.

I was a big fan of slide projections and I used Rolei twin lens slide projector for years but I can assure you that the optimized digital projection is as good if not better as long as you maintain normal viewing distance from the screen.

Regards, Marko

April 14, 2012

As I made transition from slides to digital I was very unhappy because I could not show my photos with projector any more. More so because I used slide presentations while lecturing with great success. About a year ago I finally decided to buy digital projector and after extensive investigation I narrowed my choice between two models of 3LCD projectors: Epson EH-TW 5500 and Panasonic PT-AE4000. I bought Epson EH-TW 5500 and I am quite happy with it. In natural setting it is not very bright but the colors are quite accurate even without calibration. The contrast is still not ideal but in darkened room with good screen the pictures are gorgeous.

Regards, Marko

April 5, 2012

I have problem understanding your post because there is no question and you already made a decision. Do I understand you correctly - you tested both lenses with F80 camera? EXIF information shows the use of D90 camera. Your comparison of sharpness is quite problematic because the right picture is overexposed in most cases. Also you give no data about the shutter speed, means of focusing, use of tripod etc. I was satisfied with AF 28-105 F3.5-4.5D as travel zoom on my F100 but I find it quite unsharp on modern FX DSRL cameras. On DX camera you loose wide angle part of the zoom range and I do not find the effective 42-157 mm range very useful on DX. Regards, Marko

April 3, 2012

Marko, could you report back and let us know how the issue was resolved?

</blockquote>

It's not resolved yet. Yesterday I did't manage to return the camera because the shop was closed due to inventory. So I returned the camera today and reported both problems: vertical line and green cast on the monitor screen of the camera. The shop directed the camera to local authorized Nikon repair service for the warranty repair or exchange.

The repair person called me later by the phone and asked me to explain the screen problem. I am a little surprised that I had to explain it as it is quite obvious. The guy on the phone told me that they will not try to repair the camera but they will send it to Nikon Europe.

I am a little sad because I had to part wit the new toy. I got spoiled very quick - D800 is a really fabulous camera.

Yesterday I tested few old lenses by photographing the local brick wall and I was surprised how good is 24 mm f/2.8 Ais on D800 at f8 and even at f11. Good for me because I do not have proper wide angle zoom for FX.

Regards, Marko

April 2, 2012

Just out of curiosity, have you rotated the image at all with post processing?

</blockquote>

The image is not rotated and is not processed at all. You can observe the dotted line on the screen of the D800. It's always on the same position regardless ob the orientation (the image is not rotated during playback).

Regards, Marko

April 1, 2012

Is the green tint a problem with white balance or a problem with the screen only?

</blockquote>

It's screen problem only. My opinion based on two days with new D800 is that it has much better AWB then D300 (my old camera), but the screen presentation of the photos taken is ugly. But at the same time the BW wedge that you see when you want to adjust screen brigtness looks OK.

Regards, Marko

March 31, 2012

I have a new D800 for three days now. It's a fantastic tool for landscape photography, exceptional DR, rich colors, but I also found two problems. The first is already mentioned on the web - the screen has unpleasant green tint. The second is much more serious: on all my photos there is a thin broken vertical line. It's positioned on the same place and it's made of pink and green sections. An smooth surface there is no trace of it but if there are some details you can follow it.

I will return my D800 to the dealer on Monday and I am posting the part of the affected picture so that the new owners can check for the same problem. Because the line is broken amd visible only in detailed parts of the picture it's quite easy to miss it.

Regards, Marko<div></div>

March 2, 2012

After a first sight, think that D800`s NEF files are over 70Mbytes.

</blockquote>

I think that the problem of big files with D800 is overstated. Loseless compressed raw files are only 41 Mbytes according to Nikon data. In reality I expect typical files to be even smaller than Nikon estimates.

I am also D300 user and I think that D800 is a very good camera for the transition from DX to FX if do not need high fps and you want highest quality at relatively low ISO. I am landscape photographer and I ordered D800 the same day it was announced.

So I think that your decision should be based primarily on the type of photography you are involved in.

Regards, Marko

February 20, 2012

Sorry, probably me being slow, but I do not understand this sentence, and also not how this could relate to the battery charger usage .....

</blockquote>

Sorry, I was asking if the note in the manual of the charger is as ridiculous as instruction to turn off the camera when changing lenses. We know that nobody takes this rule seriously.

Regards, Marko

February 20, 2012

I had no problems using MH-18a charger in the car with my Belkin "AC Anywhere" DC-AC inverter. Now I would like to use similar MH-25 battery charger with inverter but in the manual of the charger there is a note that "the charger is not to be used with DC-AC inverters. Failure to observe this precaution could damage the product or cause overheating or fire."

In the manual of the camera there is a note that you must turn the camera off when changing the lenes so I wonder is the note not to use the charger with inverters in the same category? Is there anybody using MH-25 with the inverter? Any problems?

Thanks, Marko

February 18, 2012

I find my D300 AWB reasonably accurate if I do not use polarization filter. With filter you have about 1.5 stops light attenuation and the contrasts are shifted so the AWB has the problem to find the white parts of the picture and to adjust the colors. When I take pictures with the polarization filter my AWB makes much too warm pictures. Anyway I shoot RAW so I can adjust WB in Lightroom later.

Regards, Marko

October 19, 2011

"Does it have a full screen mode that shows only the image without any borders?" Yes, you have the option "full screen". You can also assign left and right mouse button to 100% and 200% or something else, so you can browse prictures at full screen with preset magnification and compare details. This way you can choose the best picture in series. If you let go the button on the mouse you are in full screen fit the picture mode again. It's quick and without flicker.

Regards, Marko

October 19, 2011

I use Lightroom as a DAM and picture database tool regulary but I find it too slow for full screen picture browsing. For reviewing, sorting and rating I use FastPictureViewer PRO. It's 32 and 64-bit image viewer for Windows 7, Vista and XP and comes with codecs. It's a very fast and a very useful piece of software and is a very good suplement to Lightroom. You can import ratings form FastpictureViewer to Lightroom or PS via the XMP sidecars. I use it for ad hoc slide presentations too. I think that there is a free version which works with jpegs only. Look at: <cite>www.fastpictureviewer.com</cite>

Regards, Marko

August 5, 2011

If you use af-on button for focusing and wear glasses you are out of luck. You can dedicate AE lock button on D-7000 to prerform as AF-on button but it is placed too far the left. It's very easy to bump your glasses with your thumb. That's one of the reasons that I am waiting for the D400. It's not that D300 is bad, I like it a lot but my d300 has over 80.000 actuations so I must look for a possible replacement.

Regards, Marko

June 13, 2011

I have Epson V700 and I use it a lot (for medium format and glass plates). In your shoes I would borrow Nikon Coolscan IV, 4000, V or 5000 and do the job with it. You are lucky to have film strips so it would be a quick and not too demanding process. Working 35 mm with V700 is just to cumbersome and the results are not optimal.

Regards, Marko

March 29, 2011

If you have sound reasons to replace Nikon 18-70mm then 16-85mm VR is the way to go if you do not need 2.8 (and want to stay within the budget limits). I was using 18-70 with D70s which was my first DSLR and I can say that it is a good general purpose zoom. Today I am quite happy with NEFs taken with 18-70 even when looking at pictures on the screen at 1:1.

Then I sold D70 with the 18-70 and bought D300 with 16-85mm VR. I can say that 16 is much much more on the wide side, there is less distortion on the wide side end and the VR is really really very useful when the lens is used as a travel and/or muontains light general puropse zoom. Both lenses are sharp but I think that 16-85 VR is sharper.

Regards, Marko

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Posts posted by rombon